Verbena plant named &#39;KLEVP13460&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  Verbena  plant particularly distinguished by large pink, purple and white flowers, a semi-trailing growth habit, a high number of branches and medium vigor, is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Verbena sp.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘KLEVP13460’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Verbena,botanically known as Verbena sp., and hereinafter referred to by thevariety name ‘KLEVP13460’. ‘KLEVP13460’ originated from across-pollination conducted in June 2011 in Sydney, Australia betweenthe proprietary female Verbena variety ‘V 8068’ (unpatented), and theproprietary male Verbena variety ‘V 9120’ (unpatented).

The seeds from the cross were sown and plants were grown in a greenhousefor evaluation, where an individual plant designated ‘KLEVP13460’ wasselected from the group of plants in Cobitty, NSW, Australia in October2011.

In January 2012, ‘KLEVP13460’ was first vegetatively propagated byvegetative cuttings in Cobitty, NSW, Australia. ‘KLEVP13460’ was foundto reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexualpropagation via vegetative cuttings.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new variety when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

1. Large pink, purple and white flowers;

2. A semi-trailing growth habit; and

3. A high number of branches and medium vigor.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Verbena plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographwhich shows the plant's overall plant habit including form, foliage, andflowers. The photograph is of a three to four month-old plant grown in agreenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany in May 2013. The colors shown are astrue as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographicprocedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘KLEVP13460’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inStuttgart, Germany. Data was collected on twenty-week-old plants grownin a greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany and Latina, Italy in spring 2013.Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The RoyalHorticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Verbenaceae.        -   Botanical.—Verbena sp.        -   Common.—Verbena.        -   Designation.—‘KLEVP13460’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary verbena variety ‘V 8068’            (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—The proprietary verbena variety ‘V 9120’            (unpatented).-   Plant:    -   -   Growth and branching habit.—Semi-trailing.        -   Height (from top of soil).—20.0 cm.        -   Width (horizontal plant diameter).—40.0 cm.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—About 12 weeks            from un-rooted cutting.        -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—Two weeks.        -   Root description.—Moderate.-   Stems:    -   -   Number of branches per plant.—Greater than 30.        -   Growth habit.—Semi-trailing.        -   Length.—About 20.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 0.2 cm.        -   Internode length.—About 0.5 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 139C.        -   Anthocyanin.—Absent.        -   Texture and appearance.—Satiny, moderate, pubescence.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Immature and mature leaf.—Color: Upper surface: RHS 141B            Lower surface: RHS 139C.        -   Length.—3.0 cm.        -   Width.—1.0 cm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Accuminate.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Texture.—Upper surface: Leathery Lower surface: Rough.        -   Venation type.—Palmate.        -   Venation color.—Upper and lower surfaces: RHS 139D.        -   Petioles.—Length: Less than 0.1 cm Diameter: Less than 0.2            cm Color: RHS 139D Texture: Rough.-   Flower buds:    -   -   Shape.—Cylindrical.        -   Length.—About 1.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.        -   Color (at tight bud).—RHS 139D.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Blooming habit (flowering season).—Continuous.        -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—About two            weeks.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Inflorescence type.—Umbel.        -   Length of inflorescence.—4.0 cm.        -   Diameter of inflorescence.—6.0 cm.        -   Number of florets per inflorescence.—About 30.        -   Peduncle.—Color: RHS 139D Length: 2.0 cm Diameter: 0.1 cm.-   Florets:    -   -   Length.—1.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—1.5 cm.        -   Texture.—Glossy.        -   Form.—Single.        -   Corolla tube length.—1.0 cm.        -   Corolla tube color.—RHS 139C.        -   Petals.—Length of lobe: 1.0 cm Diameter of lobe: 0.7 cm Lobe            shape: Reniform Apex: Obtuse Base: Fused Margin: Crenate            Color: Immature: Upper surface: Two upper petals are RHS            74A, with the three lower petals RHS N999D and with the apex            of the lower petals RHS 74B Lower surface: RHS N155A Mature:            Upper surface: Two upper petals are RHS 74B, with the three            lower petals RHS N999D and with the apex of the lower petals            RHS 74B Lower surface: RHS N155A Texture: Upper surface:            Shiny Lower surface: Glossy.        -   Pedicels.—Length: 1.0 cm Diameter: 0.1 cm Color: RHS N155A            Texture and appearance: Glossy Arrangement: Composed of more            than 20 sepals arranged in a single row.-   Sepals:    -   -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Cuspidate.        -   Base.—Fused, closed.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Length.—1.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.1 cm.        -   Color (both upper and lower surfaces).—RHS 139C.        -   Texture.—Upper and lower surfaces: Hairy.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Present.        -   Quantity.—5.        -   Appearance.—Long.        -   Color.—RHS 139C.        -   Filament length.—0.2 cm.        -   Filament diameter.—Less than 0.1 cm.        -   Anther.—Shape: Long Color: RHS N999D Length: Less than 0.1            cm Diameter: Less than 0.1 cm.        -   Pollen amount.—Sparse.        -   Pistils.—Number: 1 Length: 0.5 cm Diameter: Less than 0.1 cm            Stigma: Color: RHS N999D Appearance: Filamentous Length:            Less than 0.4 cm Diameter: Less than 0.1 cm Style: Color:            RHS N999D Length: Less than 0.4 cm Diameter: Less than 0.1            cm Appearance: Round.-   Fruit and seed set:    -   -   Seeds.—Present, long and acuminate.-   Disease and pest/insect resistance: Resistant to mildew

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETIES

‘KLEVP13460’ is distinguished from its parents as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Variety Female parent Male ParentTrait ‘KLEVP13460’ ‘V 8068’ ‘V 9120’ Flower Pink, purple Salmon Pinkwith white color and white eyes Habit Semi-trailing MoundingSemi-trailing Flower size Big Medium Medium

‘KLEVP13460’ is most similar to the commercial verbena LANAI ‘TwisterBlue’ (patent status unknown). Differences between the varieties aredescribed in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Variety Commercial line Trait‘KLEVP13460’ LANAI ‘Twister Blue’ Habit Semi-trailing Trailing VigorMedium Very strong Branching High Very low

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Verbena plant designated‘KLEVP13460’ as shown and described herein.